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April 24, 192s. 1,657,487

T. E. MURRAY, JR

BUTT WELDI NG Filed July 2l. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q, ,MMM

April 24, 1928. 1,667,487

T. E. MURRAY. .1R

BUTT WELDING Filed .my 21. 192e 3 sheets-snee: 2

Mmmm r f l wventoz pril 24, 1928. 1,661,487

`T. E. MURRAY, JR

BUTT WELDING Filed July 2l. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 24,1928.

UNITED STATES THOMAS E. MURRAY, JR., or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BUTT WELDING.

Application Aitlecl July 21, 1926. Serial No. 123,845.

My invention aims to provide certain iinproveinents` in 'a paratus andmethods for electric` butt-wel ing. i W i The accompanying drawingsillustrate embodiments of the invention.

Figs. l;and 2 are 'respectiyelya planand side'elevatio'n.4 of a 4hollowsteelvspoke .for automobile wheels; n;

'Figs--B-.and'lt :are elevations -from opposite ,ends offFig.' 2;

F igzgris aplan of a lowen electrode with one vpiece of Work in placethereon; f

Figsf fand-f7 are vertical. cross-sections Iat different stages: in.theu'operation; taken on theiplanefo the line 777 of 5; M Figs.l .8: andSfare similarfeross-sections. on the plane-of the iline l914:9. Sofi Fi.-,5,;

1F ig 10j fis; af-,p 1an.s'imilar, touV ig.V -5illustratin'gfthemanufacture ,-o a,dii'erent tubularprodueb; f f fr. -1

gsiilgto @ha its outer' portion L1l :circularincross-section andslightlyzconicalvand its inner portion 2 rectangular i, in:cross-section. :1It'is Vmade from a -singler piece ofsheet metal stampedout of ablanknoffthe required' shape and .bent

around`T :until its l edges-fabut; the abutting edgeszare'ztheii weldedalig theflineg.- r y.' In .electrically butt *welding hollow articlesfrom one piece of sheet metal, there is 'a short circuiting offpa'rtbthe current around the portion of the metal opposite to the joint.This.notfonlyl'increases the-quantity of current which has to be appliedto make 'the weld but also adverselyA affects the quality of thelweld'atthe edges and often prevents across the joint for a very brief regulatedperiod of time.

The 'high current and pressure used and the decreased time consumedsupplement the other improvements referred to herein and considerablyincrease the advantage. The speed of production 'is' greatly increasedby arranging to weld two or more separate articles at one operationbetween a single set of electrodes. There are problems in the evendistribution of current and pressure and timing occurring when amultiple welding operation is undertaken which do not occur in Weldingone `piece at a time.

.'-Th'e Work'bent around to approximately the desired shape is placedin4 grooves in a lower electrode 4. An upper electrode 5 with similarlgrooves ,in its under face is brought[down-onv thefwork as in Fig. G.The 'electrodesfarearranged to engage the work. 'near f thegjointiawith:i1-'projecting portion:6,:whichxengagszthe work and embraces itla'terally so-asztotransmit thecurrent to-vvithin-iafshort':distanceofthe joint; the flat portions 7 of the electrodes serving tobearonethetopand bottom of the work. Atv the-fsides-fopposite the jointsthe electrocles'axecut away to clear the work and blocks E8,\'9.;and-10are` fastened on the faces of tl 1e.'electrodesiby lmeans of screwsl1. These blocks .may -be of non-conducting material, or theyfmay be ofmetal with insulati'ng 'materiali 1 2-'interposed between them and theelectrodes (usually of copper) and screws.

These 4Anon-conducting parts or blocks form with'the projections 6 ofthe electrodes grooves which embrace thework. that is, partially.surround it so as to hold it against pressures lwhich are lateral tothe normal or welding pressure.. vThe parts are formed so thattheyconform to the. desired shape ol the finished product and fit theblank coutinuously along the length of it or al. intervals of itslength` and serve to shape it or hold the shape of it during the.welding operation and until it' is removed from the machine.

In the bent blank there is an excess of metal at the edges 13 so thatthe top and bottom of the blank are not of the finished shape and do notmakecontact with the electrodes. The contact is confined to acomparatively short distance back from the edges of the Work. In thewelding operatien the parts are pressed together as shown tit) In' thearrous in' Fig. t' sind; :t (.'fflrtfrin quan- !it ol.' the inet-il at'.the edges is extruded m lln` forni of' fins ll. l5 \\'liu'li muyhouiller i-:nurwl liv llux forni of: tlin electrodes und:mu-conduiting;V puits. i "j ln the position of Fig. l?. :unl untilrei-y inn-u* the einl ol the olie-ration,them'is Willy little loss of'current' ln' short eirruit around (hf` joint beca-use of the liniitedContact on the electrodes. 'f

Because ofY the distorted shape ofl the bent hlunli. so -that theelectrodes clear it :it the lop and hottoin, there, is frequentlysovsligl'it a'sliort circuiting 'effect tlia't' the desiredre# s nlt canhe achievedf by merely-relieving the eleetrodes at intervals.For.'example,v the bloelis` 8 which are loeated'at' intervals-along thelength of the' electrodes 'migrht he of! con# ducting materiali-inl"electrieiill contietliv'itli the" electrodes -so 'as 'to/he in effect:parts thereof: or might; beacituallparts ofthe ref' spectire electrodes.Be'ing vdesigned to fit the finished'producbtzheyv would serve chieflyto maintain the Tne'ce'ssaiiy' lnte'ralrpxfes'snre and would' make onlyshort- :uid narifow'contacks :zindf allow onlya slight!Shorf'circuitngeffect. l 'Bhe result. 'isvthersamej"thaitifsfto concentrate the flowrofcurnent througvhfthe edges,- boi 'hev welded,`l bringing: quibk' toj -awelding heat l'an'dipcompletiing'- thof wel 5 though thez'concentratzionathe jint is not quiteiV so? great' as. "iff these Ablocljis ivevef noniconducting'. i w f' i Am'zulgiiig the electrodeshorizontaflly fa cilitntes' Ethe` welding of' fmroy or. r'nore.' piees ofr u'rkfin OnefOpettion. Amd With-two pieces' 0f wolctrbhe' blicls'r 825 9.andlO'fmiriy' lie' located-1ahthefouter'sidesfwhere they are most.conveniently acessible: and!v calli be'iil mowed:oi'fcliangedasdesined.'l'i he inxenhioirn'iay:beapplidto otherlliol lont articles thanfivheeljs'pkes.' 'It i's \`\'el=l adapted to the manufacture of one-piece weldedtubes. and L liavelvslmwn: itv iniths connection in Figs; 10. toA 141forth'e making of a. tapered uhei l 7 The sha'p'e-ffthe tubes isindicatedl at; .165 Fig. 10.- 'Elie loner-electrodo is madein twosviinnetzrieal halvesg Lfand 18 whieh in the n'elrlinfi machine arebrought together and held inthe` posit-ion of Figs. l1 to '1211 'lrhleAupper electrodo is likewise iiladein t'r\"\josinlii lar'halves 19 and 2Olieldltogeltlier in the inn'ehine during. the welding operation. l lInstead of using. blools at' intervals, I have illustrated in thesefigures continuons blocks 2li fastened'totheelectrodes by screws :ind IIhave also illustrated 'these made'of white horn fiben (orf it malybe'o'ther insulating materiali)` sothat.' nospeeiall insulation from theeleclrodes lsrequired. 'Dliesplit ting: off en oh electrodeinto"halvespenmits the.. 'i'.endyi'application andf removal' of* the hloclis 2l on?the: innerlsides ofv the work.-

[nieces 'so t0 bringr tglieA jf'ijntis'! Ellis-rico( tot`hefouterfsidri" Where"th0 inni' lie rapidly inspected. In this casethen the elm-rudes have p i-'ojegtioissewing like the projec tions (i ofFig. (i to esnhrzu'e the n'orl( :unl

1 niglremontnet Vwith it. along' i comparalivelj" nari-ow zone near thejoint until the welll is 'elimpflete'rl i" The edge portions 23. Fig.ll. :ire unplewith' 4anfexc'ef-Is'ofainetel which-is taken nl andetiln'c'lt'l as tins "24, ZAv'tFg. 12) in the finished product.

'fh'spllt ingjof the eleelrogles has the f `urther advanzwe that theylunlyhe reversed ashshofw in" igl 'lijsofas'to Bring-thebloekf;t'the'olute'r sdes and novde 'for more convenient access. I i

rEhe seveiali'featnres off the appnrntus (lesrrihefl in connection\\itili 1Q tif-mare :ip'p'licble n'lso'ftofthe'i :ippartu's of Figs'. 5to 9, and vico'veifsat Amd either`design'inay be usedfnrlfarvarietyproducts' 'other than tik-osepali-meulmlyftlefenedl toa, j "l Thepiiieip-il 'I' Y feat-mesi of! improvement deserlibcbmaybea alppliedtjal'slo' theA welding of asin" le liollbwj'prodn'cii Figi llg'foiiexax'nplegh ws Uhwe'ldinofawsi'irigle; tube 29 applied to the relievedside fflfihe; elec# A sioh i am 'dx'frczltionz ani lle: eected with theother styles of apparatus referred to '1- f- '1:12 ha'v nbtillustrated!inrthisuapplicton the Iooinpletei "weldingifappanaiiili'Manv types; oirisueh 'appamtus are' i known;- 'which clafnpfthworluli n plai'c'e and stanti thai weldingouriientfand effecttlxneeessa'lfyj pressure andi follow 4upl :iudl fnirllx'stop' themovemlent ofl'the: relectrodes'andz' mit: off: the current: at therightitime'. p 'lllie prsent invention?, may lie' used-'Wifh-a' 'g'reat'var'ietyfofr 'su'.ch machines.I -f."`w:f"' vVariousothcr-'modi'icationsmay bef made hy those sltilledf inthc'mti-.ivithonti 'dopant ing;- from (ille-invention :is-defined' inlli-L- f'olloning claims;- i

l. Mn upplrradus for the eleotlre'resistniice `hutt welding ofholloxifn'oduef'finomxa sin'- gle' piece; including',A ineombinabionafnelectrode engaging .the-z work 'ean th'ejointf contin noi-Isly along thelength of the: wo'rlc and-:i part exerting f latera-l pressure.' on'.the".A ofppo site portonf of? thef'wdrk: andi engaginv'tli work:o'nl'gvL4 at; intemralsealonr. 'its' lengt/h' i 2. Amiapriara'tusoxutlie 'eleotrie resistane hilttnveldinfg ofhbllw'prodiietlsf fonia single piece, inludng'iini combination anelep-Urode' engaging the-wolk n'eaxl the' joint! conlll) tinuously along thelength ofi the work and a part exerting lateral pressure on the oppositeportion of the work and engaging the work only at intervals along itslength, the said parts together embracing the Work and fitting thedesired cross-section thereof.

3. An apparatus for the electric resistance butt-Welding of a pluralityof hollow products each from a single piece including in combination anelectrode engaging the several bent blanks near their respective jointsand continuously throughout the length ot' the work and parts engagingthe several bent blanks at their respective sides opposite the jointsand at intervals in the length of the work so as to reduce the quantityof current passing through the parts of the blanks opposite the jointscompared with the current passing through the joints.

4. An apparatus for the electric resistance butt-Welding of a pair ofhollow products each from a single piece, including in combination apair of electrodes between which the bent blanks may be located withtheir joints facing each other, the electrodes enibracing the severalbent blanks near their respective joints and exerting pressure thereonand non-conducting parts engaging the several bent blanks at theirrespective sides opposite the joints so as to be readily accessible.

In the welding of a single piece to forni a hollow product, the methodwhich comprises the pressing of the edges together with electrodes whichengage the bent blank near the edges and continuously along the' lengthof the Work and passing a current across the joint While exertinglateral pressure at the side opposite the joint by means engaging theWork only at intervals of its length so as to pass a reduced currentthrough the part of the work opposite the joint compared with that whichpasse through the joint.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THOMAS E. MURRAY, JR.

